"Tokyo Vice" by Jake Adelstein

When I first heard of this book, I thought it would be a low key affair. But Jake Adelstein is truly promoting his newest book, "Tokyo Vice," even appearing on 60 minutes about a week ago ( I watched by chance, happy to hear they were doing a Japanese story, and was surprised to see him on TV). The 60 minutes piece was not actually on his book, but about a Top Level Yakuza (Japanese Mob) who received a liver transplant here in the USA. It seems that now Adelstein must watch his step after bringing forth such a revelation: His life may be in danger. It is no surprise that Adelstein would make some enemies while putting in time as a Crime Beat reporter for a Tokyo newspaper. But it is hard to tell just how much danger he may be in, particularly when he is appearing on TV, print, and even NPR (this coming week) to talk about his book. Regardless, I am a Tokyo fan and will definitely give the book a read in order to understand the city's underground a bit better.

What is a bit "messed-up" is that, on a Japanese internet site who gave Jake's book a thread, someone who is not too nice actually posted his parents address and suggested that affiliates of the Yakuza pay them a visit. Perhaps Adelstein is at more of a risk than I thought...

Linked is a interview given by Adelstein for Random House who is the "Tokyo Vice" publisher. HERE

Tokyo Subculture: site edited by Adelstein about Japan Underground

Cory Doctorow and His Publishing Experiment

Cory Doctorow is a writer, blogger, and culturist. He is embarking on a new project in which he will track how much money he makes by pushing DIY publishing to new levels. The plan is to compare the money he makes himself to that which he receives when he publishes traditionally. It's the smorgasbord approach and should be very interesting to follow. Doctorow will chronicle his experiment in a Publisher's Weekly column. Read the first article HERE detailing the experimental parts to the DIY project.

I hope that Cory is successful in exceeding any profits he would have made by going the traditional route. With the way the publishing world is changing it is an approach like Doctorow's that will likely become most prudent for writers, Known or Unknown 

Read PW article

"Fear of Flying" by Erica Jong

This is a good read. It moves quickly and there are moments of humor and sexual mindgames to keep you turning the page. It is somewhat of a travel novel, too.

The book printing that I have is older with very small type that takes up the entire page. From an aesthetic standpoint: the cover is a bit questionable, too. But with this being an old book, those issues are beside the point.

There is humor here no matter how self-depreciating it sometimes becomes. There are many famous names, ideas, and passages used throughout the novel. The main character, Isodora, drops these intellectualisms at a steady frequency as if to demonstrate her breathe of knowledge. The character is written as such that you can't help but think it is a very close self-depiction by author Erica Jong. Of course, I could be completely wrong. The education that our protagonist holds is a hindrance as much as it is an asset. At moments she is completely confident in her brilliance and at other moments she tends to resent her education entirely. Points in the novel demonstrate how great knowledge can sometimes drive a person to the depths of human despair. It is also evident how using ones knowledge to self-evaluate your mental state can prove lethal. Isodora is a mixed-up character, literally and metaphorically, who seems to relish in the effect.

I have heard that this book is supposed to be a statement on female sexuality. I hardly found it sexy in the narrowest view. But, in a broader view of sex and the female state, it is quite sexy in a realistic way. In many instances, what you think is going to lead into a passage about great sex actually implodes with no sex happening between characters at all. There seems to be more written about when libidos fail or when even good sex is missing a much wanted, possibly needed, extra something. There is a sleazy, dull, or unfulfilling aspect to many of the scenes that Isodora finds herself in sexually. The sexiest moment in the novel is when readers are presented with the idea of the "zipless fuck." We are given a story to show how such a rendezvous works. However, the bliss and freedom that makes a "zipless fuck" what it is never materializes for Isodora. I suppose that is the main statement of the book.